By Terry Joyce
Eight years ago, the Persian Gulf War forced Air Force reservist Murray Compton into a tough spot.
In addition to being a reservist, Compton was co-owner of a small business. The recall notice he received was bad news because he was the key man (make that the only man) in the firm's sales and marketing division.
Eventually, Compton's wife, Cindy, filled in but it was no easy chore.
Cycle forward to 1999. When the Comptons learned the Pentagon was considering another recall because of the war in Yugoslavia, they felt they should do something to help.
Compton had retired from the reserves so there's little chance he will be called up again. Still, he and his wife believe there are a number of other reservists who operate small businesses who would face the same problem.
He contacted Luder C. Messervy Jr., manager of the Small Business Resource Center in Charleston. Together, they asked several people who are interested in small businesses and the military to meet last week to consider what can be done.
Guests included representatives from locally based Army and Air Force reserve units, the city of Charleston, the University of South Carolina's Small Business Development Center, the Minority Business Development Center and the Service Corps of Retired Executives, or SCORE.
One thing became apparent after listening to their comments - there's no cure-all for the problem.
"They're all facing the Big Question," said Debra Baldwin of the 315th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base. Namely, "What do I do now?"
By law, reservists who are called up are guaranteed the job they leave behind. In fact, there's a Pentagon-sponsored Committee for Employers of the Guard and Reserve in every state to help those reservists whose jobs are in jeopardy due to a recall.
In a separate interview, state committee chairman Gene Jarrett, a Columbia businessman, said his committee's approach works well. "Most of the employers we deal with (in South Carolina) come around when they learn the facts," he said.
But Jarrett's work offers no solution to the small business operator.
In Charleston, Messervy and others at the Small Business Resource Center have resources, much of which is advice. There's no cash handout. Still, it's worth a phone call for those who face the same situation the Comptons found themselves in eight years ago.
"We don't pretend to have all the answers," Messervy said "But we do serve as a clearing house for about 30 organizations that can help small businesses."
In the meantime, U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., has introduced a bill in the Senate that would make low-interest loans available to small business operators called to active duty.
The measure has 27 co-sponsors, a press aide in Kerry's office said. Aides for South Carolina's Strom Thurmond, a Republican, and Democrat Fritz Hollings, said that both of the state's senior lawmakers were interested in co-sponsoring the bill.
None of South Carolina's reserve units had been called up as of late last week, but that could change overnight. And if the call goes out, small business operators can contact the Small Business Resource Center in Charleston at (843) 853-3900 or by e-mail at luder. messervysba.gov.
Walter E. Morgan of North Charleston is one of the latest in a long line of veterans who earned military decorations during World War II that were never presented. In his case, the medal was the Bronze Star.
First District Rep. Mark Sanford, R-S.C., presented Morgan with the medal on April 12, 54 years after he earned it.
"I got the idea from an article you wrote about two years ago," Morgan said recently. The article quoted an officer who said the Army had decided to give the Bronze Star to all soldiers who earned the Combat Infantryman Badge during the war.
With that in mind, Morgan certainly earned the Bronze Star. He joined the Army in 1943 and was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division during the Battle of the Bulge. He was in combat for the next four months until he stopped several pieces of shrapnel about 60 miles west of Berlin.
Two years ago he started writing letters to the Army but said that didn't work.
"So I wrote to Congressman Sanford, and after 18 or 20 months it (the medal) finally came through," he said.
Morgan says there may be more Lowcountry vets who qualify for the Bronze Star. If so, they should write to the following address:
National Personnel Records Center
9700 Page Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63132
Vets should include a copy (not an original) of Form DD-214, showing periods of wartime service.
R.L. Schreadley, retired executive editor of The Post and Courier, will speak at a dinner meeting of the Charleston Council of the U.S. Navy League at 7 p.m. on May 21 at the Charleston Hilton. For reservations, call (843) 971-2628.
Crew members of the cruiser Boston (CA-69, CAG-1) and the nuclear fast-attack submarine Boston (SSN-703) will hold a reunion July 2-4 in Burlington, Vt. Contact Arthur L. Hebert, P.O. Box 816, Amherst, N.H. 03031-0816. Phone: (603) 672-8772.
Eight years ago, the Persian Gulf War forced Air Force reservist Murray Compton into a tough spot.
In addition to being a reservist, Compton was co-owner of a small business. The recall notice he received was bad news because he was the key man (make that the only man) in the firm's sales and marketing division.
Eventually, Compton's wife, Cindy, filled in but it was no easy chore.
Cycle forward to 1999. When the Comptons learned the Pentagon was considering another recall because of the war in Yugoslavia, they felt they should do something to help.
Compton had retired from the reserves so there's little chance he will be called up again. Still, he and his wife believe there are a number of other reservists who operate small businesses who would face the same problem.
He contacted Luder C. Messervy Jr., manager of the Small Business Resource Center in Charleston. Together, they asked several people who are interested in small businesses and the military to meet last week to consider what can be done.
Guests included representatives from locally based Army and Air Force reserve units, the city of Charleston, the University of South Carolina's Small Business Development Center, the Minority Business Development Center and the Service Corps of Retired Executives, or SCORE.
One thing became apparent after listening to their comments - there's no cure-all for the problem.
"They're all facing the Big Question," said Debra Baldwin of the 315th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base. Namely, "What do I do now?"
By law, reservists who are called up are guaranteed the job they leave behind. In fact, there's a Pentagon-sponsored Committee for Employers of the Guard and Reserve in every state to help those reservists whose jobs are in jeopardy due to a recall.
In a separate interview, state committee chairman Gene Jarrett, a Columbia businessman, said his committee's approach works well. "Most of the employers we deal with (in South Carolina) come around when they learn the facts," he said.
But Jarrett's work offers no solution to the small business operator.
In Charleston, Messervy and others at the Small Business Resource Center have resources, much of which is advice. There's no cash handout. Still, it's worth a phone call for those who face the same situation the Comptons found themselves in eight years ago.
"We don't pretend to have all the answers," Messervy said "But we do serve as a clearing house for about 30 organizations that can help small businesses."
In the meantime, U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., has introduced a bill in the Senate that would make low-interest loans available to small business operators called to active duty.
The measure has 27 co-sponsors, a press aide in Kerry's office said. Aides for South Carolina's Strom Thurmond, a Republican, and Democrat Fritz Hollings, said that both of the state's senior lawmakers were interested in co-sponsoring the bill.
None of South Carolina's reserve units had been called up as of late last week, but that could change overnight. And if the call goes out, small business operators can contact the Small Business Resource Center in Charleston at (843) 853-3900 or by e-mail at luder. messervysba.gov.
Walter E. Morgan of North Charleston is one of the latest in a long line of veterans who earned military decorations during World War II that were never presented. In his case, the medal was the Bronze Star.
First District Rep. Mark Sanford, R-S.C., presented Morgan with the medal on April 12, 54 years after he earned it.
"I got the idea from an article you wrote about two years ago," Morgan said recently. The article quoted an officer who said the Army had decided to give the Bronze Star to all soldiers who earned the Combat Infantryman Badge during the war.
With that in mind, Morgan certainly earned the Bronze Star. He joined the Army in 1943 and was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division during the Battle of the Bulge. He was in combat for the next four months until he stopped several pieces of shrapnel about 60 miles west of Berlin.
Two years ago he started writing letters to the Army but said that didn't work.
"So I wrote to Congressman Sanford, and after 18 or 20 months it (the medal) finally came through," he said.
Morgan says there may be more Lowcountry vets who qualify for the Bronze Star. If so, they should write to the following address:
National Personnel Records Center
9700 Page Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63132
Vets should include a copy (not an original) of Form DD-214, showing periods of wartime service.
R.L. Schreadley, retired executive editor of The Post and Courier, will speak at a dinner meeting of the Charleston Council of the U.S. Navy League at 7 p.m. on May 21 at the Charleston Hilton. For reservations, call (843) 971-2628.
Crew members of the cruiser Boston (CA-69, CAG-1) and the nuclear fast-attack submarine Boston (SSN-703) will hold a reunion July 2-4 in Burlington, Vt. Contact Arthur L. Hebert, P.O. Box 816, Amherst, N.H. 03031-0816. Phone: (603) 672-8772.
